hopper
n. countable C2 Proficiency US //ˈhɑpɝ// UK //hˈɒpɐ// hop·per
n. a container shaped like a funnel that holds things like grain, coal, or gravel. It lets the material fall out of the bottom slowly and steadily into a machine.
n. a funnel-shaped container used to store and discharge loose material through the force of gravity. Often used in industrial or agricultural contexts to feed a processing machine.
The farmer filled the hopper with fresh grain.
Workers loaded the gravel into the large metal hopper before it was crushed by the machine.
The automated system monitors the weight of the hopper to ensure a consistent flow of raw materials into the furnace during the manufacturing process.
Usage
Commonly used in technical, industrial, or agricultural contexts.